Caribbean cruise lines

Top 10 Caribbean Islands
These are the best of the 30-plus Caribbean Islands. Criteria include tourism and special-interest attractions and activities (snorkeling for instance).

1. Jamaica
2. St Barts
   
3. British Virgin Islands
4. St Lucia
5. Barbados
6. Dominican Republic
7. Bahamas
8. St Martin / St Maarten
9. Cayman Islands
10. Aruba

Also learn why the other Caribbean Islands are special
Each is deserving in its own way.
Anguilla
Antigua & Barbuda
Belize Barrier Reef
Bonaire
Cuba
Curacao
Dominica
Grenada
Guadeloupe
Haiti
Honduras Bay Islands
Martinique
Mexico's Cancun & Cozumel
Montserrat
Puerto Rico
Saba
St Eustatius
St Kitts & Nevis
St Vincent & The Grenadines
Trinidad & Tobago
Turks and Caicos
US Virgin Islands

Caribbean Itineraries - Routes & maps
Click Caribbean Itineraries to see my Caribbean cruise maps & routes

The ten best shore excursions of the Caribbean Islands await you.
1. Sunbathing and beachcombing
There's hardly a Caribbean island that doesn't have a beautiful beach. They are collectively the prime reason visitors come to the islands - and cruise ships offer shore excursions to them.

2. Snorkeling and diving
You find great reefs on many of the islands. Some cruise ships stock snorkeling equipment. If yours doesn't and you didn't bring yours, there are snorkeling and dive shops ashore.

3. Carnival of Trinidad  Trinidad & Tobago
It's one of the world's most exciting and energetic carnivals. Your cruise ship must be in the port during the days preceding Lent.

4.El Morro  Puerto Rico
This mighty, photogenic, thick-walled fortress once stood guard against pirate ships and hostile foreign fleets. El Morro is next to Old San Juan, another must-see attraction.

5. The Baths  British Virgin Islands
Giant boulders shape a striking rock formation along a beach. They fit snugly together, creating cave-like passageways that you can walk, climb, swim, snorkel, and kayak through.

6. Citadelle Laferriere  Haiti
This huge citadel dramatically sits high on a mountain overlooking the sea. Below it lies the ruins of Sans Souci palace.

7. River rafting  Jamaica
You sit on a two-person chair secured on a small wooden raft as your skipper guides you silently down the peaceful Rio Grande River flanked with cliffs and tropical foliage.

8. Bioluminescent Bay  Puerto Rico
This small, shallow body of water on Viequez Island is infused with microscopic protozoa bacteria that light up around you as you swim through them at night. Advisory: The bacteria has recently stopped glowing. This could be temporary or permanent. Check with the Puerto Rican tourism board about the bioluminescent status for your planned travel dates.

9. America's Cup ships  St Maarten
Help crew one of the former sailing ships that competed in an America's Cup race. It's an exciting experience for landlubbers and seasoned sailors alike.

10. Dunn's River  Falls Jamaica
You walk-climb up the short, squat, and roaring Dunn's River Falls. It's at most a slight challenge to the majority of visitors.